This is the sort of tireless work animal rescues do, and it's vitally important

Two of the nine beagles rescued by the Beagle Freedom Project. (Photo courtesy Emotions of Light)

The Birmingham area is fortunate to have more than a few high quality animal rescues: Bama Bully Rescue, Peace Love and Dog Paws, Adopt A Golden, Basset Hound Rescue of Alabama, German Shepherd Rescue of Central Alabama, Have a Heart Rescue, Helping Shepherds of Every Color, K9 ResQ, MomaKat Rescue, and Alabama Pug Rescue and Adoption, among others.

There is no telling how many healthy animals' lives have been saved by these amazing organizations and their seemingly tireless volunteers.

Animals

About the writerJoey Kennedy, a Pulitzer Prize winner, focuses on animal issues for the Alabama Media Group. He is also a community engagement specialist for AL.com. He can be reached at jkennedy@al.com.

Over the next several weeks, I'm going to begin profiling high quality area rescues and tell some of their great rescue successes. (If you're not on the list above -- which is in no way complete -- please get in touch with me.)

Of course, there are many other great rescue stories from all across the nation. Over Memorial Day weekend, I came across one from the Beagle Freedom Project, based in California. This is a moving story of the liberation of nine Beagles in Nevada from a research lab, and includes the You Tube video below.

Now, tell us you rescue story. Anytime a healthy, adoptable animal is saved from almost certain euthanasia, it's an amazing story. Perhaps your rescue is not as dramatic as this group of saved Beagles, but it's amazing nonetheless.